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    Claim up to $500K+ in R&D tax credits

    Qualifying research can create a federal credit. We handle the full process for you, from identifying qualifying activities to filing Form 6765. Pricing starts at $5,000 and is set by your estimated credit.

    Check whether your research qualifies

    Software and product development can qualify when the work meets all four requirements and avoids the research exclusions. The IRS uses a 4-part test:

    Permitted purpose

    The work must aim to create a new or improved product, process, software, technique, formula, or invention.

    Technological uncertainty

    There must be uncertainty about the capability, method, or design at the outset of the project.

    Process of experimentation

    The work must involve evaluating alternatives through modeling, simulation, testing, or systematic trial and error.

    Technological in nature

    The work must rely on principles of engineering, computer science, biological science, or physical science.

    Importantly, the work does NOT need to succeed. Failed experiments and abandoned projects still qualify if they meet these criteria.

    Qualifying expenses

    These common startup costs often qualify for the R&D credit:

    Developer salaries and wages

    Engineers, designers, and product managers working on qualifying projects

    Contractor payments

    Generally 65% of qualifying US contract-research payments, subject to the agreement and research-risk rules

    Cloud computing costs

    Qualifying off-premises computer rental used in research; general cloud subscriptions do not automatically qualify

    Supplies and materials

    Non-depreciable tangible supplies used in qualified research; depreciable equipment is excluded

    Section 174 recovery after the July 2026 deadline

    For tax years beginning in 2022 through 2024, Section 174 required domestic research costs to be capitalized and amortized over five years. Foreign research costs were amortized over 15 years.

    Section 174A allows current deductions for domestic research costs in tax years beginning after December 31, 2024, with an option to capitalize and amortize them over at least 60 months. Foreign research remains on 15-year amortization.

    What this means for you:

    The small-business retroactive election expired on July 6, 2026. A separate transition route lets taxpayers recover the remaining unamortized domestic research costs from 2022 through 2024 in the first tax year beginning after December 31, 2024, or ratably over the two-year period beginning with that year. That route has no small-business gross-receipts test. We review your prior deductions, filing status and the applicable method-change procedures before recommending a treatment.

    IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-28 sets out the transition rules. Revenue Procedure 2026-32 updates the method-change procedures. Reviewed September 30, 2026.

    How it works

    01

    Identify qualifying activities

    We review your engineering work, product roadmap, and project history to identify all activities that meet the IRS 4-part test.

    02

    Calculate the credit

    We compute your credit using both the regular and alternative simplified methods, choosing whichever maximizes your benefit.

    03

    Prepare the technical study

    We create the documentation and technical narratives that substantiate your claim in case of audit.

    04

    File Form 6765

    We prepare Form 6765 with your return and check whether a timely payroll-tax election is available.

    Priced on your estimated credit: from $5,000

    $5,000 flat when the estimate comes in under $50,000, and 10% of the credit at $50,000 and above. No hourly billing.

    Frequently asked questions

    The amount depends on qualified research expenses, the calculation method, prior-year expenses and elections. Engineering payroll alone does not establish a credit.

    A qualified small business needs less than $5 million in gross receipts in the credit year and no gross receipts before the five-tax-year period ending with that year. The maximum election is $500,000, with a five-election limit. It must be made on a timely original return, including extensions; it cannot be made or changed on an amended return.

    Generally 65% of qualifying US contract-research payments can count. The agreement, research risk and rights in results also matter. Foreign research does not qualify for the federal credit.

    A preparer must check the refund limitation period and substantiation for each return. An amended credit claim does not permit a new payroll-tax election.

    Software can qualify when the business component meets the four-part test and is not excluded research. Routine maintenance and customer adaptation do not automatically qualify. Internal-use software has additional requirements.

    We handle all documentation as part of our service. We generally need access to your project management tools, git repositories, and time tracking data to substantiate the claim.

    Both the activities and expenses must qualify. Documentation must support the technical work and expense allocation; a study cannot make ineligible work qualify.

    The small-business retroactive election expired on July 6, 2026. Separately, remaining domestic research costs capitalized in 2022 through 2024 can be recovered under the transition method-change rules. For a calendar-year taxpayer, the first recovery year is 2025, with a one-year or two-year recovery option. Ask the preparer to check any elections already made and the current procedures.

    Estimate your R&D tax credit

    See your likely federal credit and how much you could claim against payroll taxes, even pre-revenue, in about a minute.

    Open the R&D calculator

    Find out if you qualify